Eidos Design. Volume XII: New Old UI Trends, Spark Mobile App Review, And an Alternative Version of The Geneva Conventions
Exploring design’s evolving pluralism, Spark’s outstanding user experience, and creative courage from Banda Agency.
Hello fellow designers, creatives, digital professionals and Eidos Design members!
I typically aim to send out our newsletter during the first half of each month, but May was a whirlwind month in the digital design world. Between major events like Figma’s Config conference (if you missed it, you can read my reflections here) and a series of significant industry shifts, there’s been a lot to unpack and reflect upon.
With all these rapid developments, I find myself (and many designers around me) confronting the same persistent anxiety:
Am I focusing on what’s truly important?
I can't promise that this issue will help you overcome that anxiety. But I can guarantee that it will quickly update you on the latest design news, and with another app review, a dose of inspiration it will keep your creativity sharp and your spirits lifted!
In this issue:
UI Design Trends: Apple and Google redefine their visual styles, embracing glassmorphism and neo-brutalism, while Airbnb revives skeuomorphic aesthetics.
Spark App Review: An in-depth exploration of why Spark may be the ideal email client.
Design with Courage: How Kyiv-based Banda Agency creatively challenges international injustice through powerful design.
I. New Old UI Trends
Insight
It's amazing to see the latest design updates to big brands' interfaces and styles. While they all used to adhere to similar rules and patterns, they now seem to be diverging stylistically.
In the previous issue, I wrote about upcoming Apple “glass” interfaces, and shortly after, Google announced significant updates to their Android style guide. The company unveiled Material 3 Expressive, a new design for Android 16 and Wear OS.
👉 Here’s more information and a short video demo.
Material 3 Expressive is all about:
Many new micro-interactions, including animations and vibrations.
Like Apple, there are blurred background effects, transparency, and some “glass” effects.
Elements of trendy neo-brutalism can be seen in the graphics, fonts, and iconography, which could extend the trend's longevity.
This design has a very interesting, modern vibe!
And while Android is leaning into neo-brutalism, Airbnb is rolling out a new feature called Airbnb Services with graphical updates that hark back to the elements of old, forgotten skeuomorphism. Just look at their new icons!
The most important aspect of these updates is that major companies are rediscovering their unique and captivating voices in the digital world. While minimalism, simplicity, ease, and straightforwardness were common practices, we can now see different development vectors and focus on specific audiences with particular preferences. Long live pluralism!
You can take a deeper dive into some of my reflections on Glassmorphism and read my “verdict” after touching the beta:
Glassmorphism at Apple: New Old Trend And New Old Troubles
Retro aesthetics are fun! As someone who used to enjoy designing skeuomorphic iOS icons, I’m excited to see digital design embracing artistry again. However, beauty shouldn't come at the expense of functionality.
II. Spark Mobile App: A Fresh Breeze or a Flickering Flame?
Product Review
Reminder: Product evaluation is done according to Don Norman's 3 levels of design.
This month, we’re shining our design spotlight on Spark, an email client that has garnered attention by promising clarity, productivity, and a less stressful inbox experience. Is it just another pretty interface? Can this app actually help you achieve a zero-inbox state? Let's find out.
Visceral level: 5/5
The visceral level is responsible for first impressions.
From the moment it's launched, Spark feels like a breath of fresh air in an otherwise dreadful inbox. The app greets users with a sleek, minimalist design that is visually delightful. The color scheme of soft blues and ample white space feels calming, professional, and inviting — the perfect emotional antidote to inbox overwhelm.
The animations and transitions are fluid, subtle, and satisfying. Buttons and icons are crisp and intuitive, avoiding the overly complex design elements that typically clutter email apps.
Spark immediately creates a visceral sense of trust, ease, and clarity. Exactly what busy users want from their email app.
Behavioral level: 5/5
This level focuses on usability — how the product performs and whether it effectively solves user problems.
Spark truly stands out in its ability to simplify email management. Its standout feature is the Smart Inbox, which categorizes emails into three folders: “Personal,” “Notifications,” and “Newsletters.” It really works without any additional customization, filtering rules, or anything else. This feature instantly provides a clearer view of what’s important. It alone significantly reduces the cognitive load of processing emails and maintaining an organized inbox.
Spark also offers intuitive swipe actions for quickly archiving, deleting, or pinning emails, which significantly speeds up inbox management. Integrations with productivity apps such as Todoist, Evernote, and Trello further enhance workflow efficiency, establishing Spark as a vital hub for task management beyond just an email client.
Okay, maybe it doesn't sound like a review anymore, but more like a fan's enthusiastic response. Perhaps it is! 😁 As it seems like this is the first app I've reviewed that will receive a rating higher than 4.5!
Spark, of course, has a business goal: to generate revenue for its developer's company. Currently, it appears that Spark primarily attempts to achieve this through AI integration and an email blocking feature. However, the latter isn't critical due to the excellent filtering capabilities. Since there are other tools available for analyzing long emails, providing short summaries, and writing replies, I don't see any reason to upgrade to a paid account. This isn't great for their business, but it's great for me as a user.
I tried really hard to find any bugs, inconsistencies, or other issues on this level. I didn't find anything, not even a minor issue! Okay, maybe just some lags when syncing between desktop and mobile devices. But nothing is really worth noting.
Reflective level: 5/5
The reflective level considers the long-term impression and deeper meaning of the design — how it aligns with the user’s identity and values.
Spark is more than just a productivity tool; it's an ally against inbox anxiety. Spark embodies the modern ideals of digital minimalism and stress-free productivity. For many users, Spark reflects their aspiration to manage digital communication effectively and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
However, its appeal to power users who seek a highly personalized experience may be reduced by the somewhat limited customization options, such as personalized themes or advanced inbox rules, compared to competitors. For those who don't need extensive customization, Spark is a purely amazing, ready-to-use solution.
Spark’s user-centric philosophy, intuitive interaction patterns, and commitment to reducing inbox stress align beautifully with the values of modern professionals: simplicity, efficiency, and mindfulness.
Overall: 5/5
Spark is undoubtedly a top-tier email client. It excels in aesthetics and usability, and effectively addresses the emotional pain points associated with email management. Its thoughtful, holistic approach sets a high standard for app design and proves that great digital products are about more than just beautiful visuals. Spark empowers users to feel in control, efficient, and calm, showcasing the transformative power of exceptional digital design.
Have you tried Spark yet? I’d love to hear about your experience with it! If not, I encourage you to give it a try! And no, they didn’t pay me to advertise.
III. How Creative Courage Can Drive Change
A Dose of Inspiration
Great design has the power to move us aesthetically and inspire profound societal change. This month, a dose of inspiration comes from the Kyiv-based Banda Agency, which is known for its creativity.
Recently, Banda unveiled a new project: the “Moscow Conventions”, an alternative version of the Geneva Conventions that directly confronts Russia's violations of international law. Through powerful visuals and thoughtful design, Banda has transformed complex political issues into compelling visual statements that drive the world’s attention toward critical, ongoing conflict and injustice.
The Moscow Convention's physical copies are going to be handed over to political leaders and ambassadors from different countries. Banda hopes that using the language of international law, along with strong visual design, will help reach UN representatives and human rights commissioners.
It's tough, but it's taught us Ukrainians that donations can be super effective, and that putting pressure on the public and media can get Leopards tanks, F-16s, and so on. So why shouldn't this project influence the opinions of certain people? It might.
What’s so remarkable about Banda’s approach isn’t just their world-class design skill, but also their unwavering courage. Their work reminds us that our responsibility as designers goes far beyond pixels, screens, and aesthetics. It touches the heart, provokes the mind, and carries the potential to inspire action on a global scale.
So let this be our gentle reminder today: Design with courage. Design with intention. Because our creativity can (and should!) spark conversations that change the world.
And this is it for today,
Remember, amidst rapid changes, our most crucial task as designers is to stay true to meaningful, impactful work.
Wishing you a creative and fulfilling month ahead! See you in the next issue, and as always — happy designing!
As always, this newsletter is free, but if you enjoyed it, please consider sharing it with a friend or two. Spreading the love is what it's all about, folks.
Sincerely,
Vadym Grin